ACUVUE^® Blog

Contact lenses and spring allergies: What to know

Learn how spring allergies affect contact lens wearers and why daily disposable lenses can be a great option during spring allergy season.

Goodbye winter, hello allergies

Spring is many peoples’ favorite season, and for good reason—it signals the end of cold winter weather and the beginning of more sunshine, more warmth and more outdoor fun (unless your favorite outdoor fun involves snow, of course). Unfortunately, if you’re a person that struggles with spring allergies, the arrival of spring can also mean the onset of itchy, watery, irritated eyes as the trees and flowers begin to bloom. If you wear contact lenses, the effect can be amplified. Read on to explore why that is, and discover the potential effects of wearing daily disposables vs. reusable lenses during allergy season.

What causes allergies anyways?

Before you can understand how allergens impact contact lens wearers, you have to understand allergies themselves. Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a substance (known as an allergen) as if it were a threat. Common spring allergens include pollens and mold spores on top of year-round allergens like pet dander and dust mites. When your body detects the allergens in your lungs, nose, or eyes, one way it responds is to release histamines, which tell your body to defend against the allergen. In part, this is what leads to symptoms like swelling and redness in the eyes, sneezing and itchiness.

Allergies and contact lenses: A complicated relationship

Why can contacts and allergies be such a bad combination for some people? Because contact lenses can act like a magnet to allergens. Dust, pollen, or mold and more can stick to the lens material and accumulate, causing your eyes to be in constant contact with aggravating allergens. When you're already struggling with allergies, this can make them feel worse.

Possible complications due to allergies

1. Irritation and discomfort

As allergens build up on your lenses, your eyes can begin to feel more and more uncomfortable. They may feel itchy, dry, watery, or sensitive.

2. Allergic conjunctivitis (pink eye)

If your immune response is strong enough to the allergens, you may experience allergic conjunctivitis. Some of the most common symptoms of this are itching, red eyes, swollen eyelids and a mucus discharge.

3. Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)

GPC is when giant bumps (papillae) develop on the underside of the eyelid. While people that don’t wear contact lenses can get GPC, people who wear contact lenses have the greatest chance of experiencing GPC. And while spring allergies are not typically the primary cause, hay fever or other allergies can make it more likely to experience GPC. Other symptoms of GPC include itching, blurry vision, swollen eyelids or the feeling like something is stuck in your eye.

How daily disposables could help

For some people, allergy symptoms are bad enough that they have to stop wearing contacts for the duration of the allergy season, but daily disposables may help some allergy sufferers continue to wear contact lenses during allergy season. If you're ever in doubt, ask your eye care professional and always follow their instructions.

Freshness matters

Starting each day with a new lens can help ensure you aren't reintroducing allergens from the day before, as could be the case with reusable lenses if you aren't cleaning them thoroughly enough. A fresh lens can also have other potential advantages, like improved comfort.

See ACUVUE Daily Disposables

Tips for managing your allergies while wearing contacts

Here are some expert strategies to help keep your eyes happy and healthy during allergy season:

1. Consult a professional

First things first, before making any decisions, talk to your eye doctor. This is especially important if you’re experiencing changes in vision or consistent eye irritation. They can provide a comprehensive evaluation of your eye health and help you determine whether daily disposables are right for you.

2. If your contacts feel uncomfortable, take them out

Any time you feel eye irritation when wearing contact lenses, you should take them out. If they're daily disposables, throw them away, and if they're reusable, clean and disinfect them. If you continue to feel irritation, stop wearing your contacts and talk to your eye doctor.

3. Keep glasses handy

As hinted with the previous tip, contact lenses are always meant to be used alongside eyeglasses. This is especially true for allergy sufferers, who may need to wear glasses until their allergies die down.

4. Avoid rubbing your eyes

We get it; it’s hard not to rub your eye when you're experiencing discomfort! But resist the urge. This can exacerbate your allergies and could transfer more allergens onto your lenses—leading to more irritation.

5. Minimize exposure to allergens

Minimizing exposure to allergens can also help your lens-wearing experience. Stay informed about pollen counts and avoid outdoor activities when the counts are high. Try to reduce pollen entry into your home by keeping windows closed and using air purifiers. Wash your bedding regularly to eliminate dust mites and dander.

6. If you wear reusable contacts, keep your cleaning routing consistent

Your contact lens cleaning routine should always be consistent, thorough and follow the multipurpose disinfecting solution manufacturer's directions. Allergy season can really highlight if you’re not being thorough enough. If you’re cleaning your contacts well with a multipurpose solution and you’re still experiencing irritation, talk to your eye doctor. As part of your treatment plan, they may recommend a different solution, different contact lenses, or other treatment options like over-the-counter or prescription medications.

7. Ask your doctor if allergy meds would be right for you

One of the most common ways to fight allergies is to take over-the-counter antihistamines. These can be a temporary treatment for allergy symptoms, but they aren’t a substitute for good lens hygiene. In addition to oral medications, some eye drops have antihistamines, but it’s important to note that you shouldn’t combine eye drops that deliver drugs with contact lenses. Talk to your eye doctor for their recommendation of the best eye drops for contacts and allergies. If your eye drops are eye-doctor approved, make sure you use them 10-15 minutes before putting your contact lenses on.

 Your best resource is your eye doctor

While you might find allergy season a struggle, it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the beauty of spring. In addition to taking measures to minimize allergen exposure, daily disposable lenses could be one way to find more comfort during allergy season. So, if you’re an allergy sufferer, consult with your eye doctor to get a plan tailored to you. Here's to clear skies, blooming flowers, and hopefully, less irritation.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Are daily contacts better for allergies?

Daily disposables can help reduce your exposure to allergens. Allergens like to stick to contact lens material, so throwing away your lenses at the end of the day allows you to start with a fresh pair each day.

Can you wear contacts with seasonal allergies?

It depends on how severe your seasonal allergies are. It’s best to talk to your eye doctor about your eye allergy symptoms. Some people cannot wear contact lenses at all during allergy seasons, while some people prefer to use daily disposables rather than reusable lenses during allergy season.

Why do my contacts get blurry during allergy season?

Allergens can trigger an immune response in your eyes, leaning to watering, itchiness, swollen eyelids and mucus discharge. All of these things can contribute to blurry vision.

Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information.  Johnson & Johnson does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

Important Information for Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides. 

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